This is the greatest thing ever to hit the internet. MotorWeek, one of the top three automotive TV shows from Owings Mills, Maryland, just put up some “retro reviews.” They review the AE86, S13, and AW11 when new, a good decade before anyone in the US knew the words dorifto or touge, and do so in glorious sexual harassment training seminar format.
They didn’t test them together, mind you. There’s a good five years separating the two. But here are some of the best gems from the reviews, other than the S13 guy’s jheri curl porn mullet.
On the Nissan 240SX: “The Motorweek staff’s first reaction to this interesting shade of silver-green was a resounding ‘yuck,'” but then after noticing it on BMWs and Volkswagens (oh, so I guess that makes it okay then) they like it. “Plus the young, especially women, seem to love it!” All yours, too, for just $12,995.
On the Corolla GT-S: “Handling is predictable, but we did notice a hint of trailing throttle tail twitch” And check out that $9,298 base price!
There was, however, one peculiarly prescient statement: “It’s easy to see that both of Toyota’s sweet 16 street machines are going to enjoy instant and long-running sports car fan demand.” Oh, if they only had known.
There are a number of other cool videos on there. ’83 Celica Supra, ’84 RX-7 GSL-SE vs 944, ’89 RX-7 vs Miata, ’82 Subaru Wagon, etc.
Not to mention the ’85 4Runner!
Is it me or are they nitpicking? That whole comment about the colour on the Nissan, give me a break.
Wonderful videos either way, I’m not a Nissan fan but that video sold me on picking one up one day. haha
they nitpick the colour of the Nissan but give the dude with the merm a free pass, what gives? Now THAT was a blast from the past, yeouch!
“There was, however, one peculiarly prescient statement: “It’s easy to see that both of Toyota’s sweet 16 street machines are going to enjoy instant and long-running sports car fan demand.” Oh, if they only had known.”
Well, to be fair, they did. Although their complaints about steering feel seem ludicrous. Please tell me what cars have better steering feel than ae86 and aw11, so that I can go pick one up!
There’s also a comparison test of the E80 FX16, firstgen Integra and erimaki Colt Turbo along with entries from Dearborn and Wolfsburg.
“The 240SX is a Highway cruiser and not a high powered sports car”
“The rear end doesn’t want to step out in the 240SX due to…” (paraphrased)
If only they knew.